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- 7th Armoured Division (The Desert Rats) during the Second World War -


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World War 2 Two II WW2 WWII 1939 1945

7th Armoured Division (The Desert Rats)



14th Jan 1940 Orders

8th Feb 1940 Inspection

12th Apr 1940 Orders

13th Apr 1940 Inspection

1st May 1940 Orders

3rd May 1940 Into Position

4th May 1940 Protection

5th May 1940 Move

6th May 1940 Patrol

7th May 1940 Concentration

8th May 1940 Move

9th May 1940 Concentration

17th May 1940 Reliefs

8th Jun 1940 Italians gathering for war

11th Jun 1940 In Action

9th Sep 1940 Orders

10th Sep 1940 Bombing

18th Sep 1940 On the Move

1st Dec 1940 On the Move

6th Dec 1940 Orders

7th Dec 1940 On the March

8th Dec 1940 On the March

9th Dec 1940 Prisoners

10th Dec 1940 Shelling

11th Dec 1940 Enemy Aircraft

12th Dec 1940 Water Truck Recovered

14th Dec 1940 Communication Issues

15th Dec 1940 Air Raid

16th Dec 1940 Bombing

17th Dec 1940 Supplies

18th Dec 1940 Air Raid

19th Dec 1940 Enemy Camp

21st Dec 1940 Enemy Camp

22nd Dec 1940 Command

23rd Dec 1940 Enemy Aircraft

24th Dec 1940 Visit

24th Dec 1940 Enemy Aircraft

25th Dec 1940 Divine Service

27th Dec 1940 Tanks

29th Dec 1940 Postings

30th Dec 1940 Orders

31st Dec 1940 Recce

1st Jan 1941 Recce

2nd Jan 1941 Preparations

3rd Jan 1941 Attack Made

4th Jan 1941 Situation Obscure

5th Jan 1941 On the Move

6th Jan 1941 Quiet

7th Jan 1941 Preparations

8th Jan 1941 On the Move

9th Jan 1941 Patrols

10th Jan 1941 No Move

11th Jan 1941 Shelling

12th Jan 1941 Observation

13th Jan 1941 Patrols

14th Jan 1941 Supplies

15th Jan 1941 Visit

16th Jan 1941 Orders

17th Jan 1941 Conference

18th Jan 1941 Vehicles

19th Jan 1941 Vehicles

20th Jan 1941 On the Move

21st Jan 1941 On the Move

17th Feb 1941 Wounds

24th Feb 1941 Message

27th Feb 1941 moves

7th Mar 1941 Move

11th Mar 1941 Equipment

23rd Mar 1941 Guard Duty

24th Mar 1941 Transport

31st Mar 1941 Reorganisation

6th Aug 1941 Demonstration

7th Aug 1941 Equipment

8th Aug 1941 Courts Martial

9th Aug 1941 Courts Martial

10th Aug 1941 Courts Martial

11th Aug 1941 Courts Martial

12th Aug 1941 Equipment

14th Aug 1941 Equipment

18th Aug 1941 Visit

19th Aug 1941 Equipment

20th Aug 1941 Visit

21st Aug 1941 Exercise

22nd Aug 1941 Equipment

23rd Aug 1941 Equipment

24th Aug 1941 Posting

25th Aug 1941 Equipment

26th Aug 1941 Visit

27th Aug 1941 Press Visit

28th Aug 1941 Reinforcements

30th Aug 1941 Reinforcements

31st Aug 1941 Report

18th Sep 1941 Reorganisation

19th Sep 1941 Training

20th Sep 1941 Posting

25th Sep 1941 Training

26th Sep 1941 Accident

27th Sep 1941 Funeral

28th Sep 1941 Funeral

1st Oct 1941  Parade

6th Oct 1941  Funerals

7th Oct 1941  Advance Party

8th Oct 1941  On the Move

9th Oct 1941  Air Raids

10th Oct 1941  Equipment

12th Oct 1941  On the Move

14th Oct 1941  In Reserve

17th Oct 1941  Training

20th Oct 1941  Damage

23rd Oct 1941  New Tracks

25th Oct 1941  Test

29th Oct 1941  Equipment

31st Oct 1941  On the Move

8th Jan 1942 Orders

9th Jan 1942 Orders

17th Jan 1942 Orders

27th May 1942 Attacks

28th May 1942 Stand Off

29th May 1942 In Action

30th May 1942 In Action

31st May 1942 Patrols

1st Jun 1942 Patrols

2nd Jun 1942 Observation

3rd Jun 1942 Observation

4th Jun 1942 Planning

5th June 1942 In Action

5th Jun 1942 In Action

6th June 1942 Enemy Attacks

15th Aug 1942 On the Move

9th Sep 1942 Training Instructions

14th Sep 1942 Training

26th Sep 1942 Visit

30th Sep 1942 Reinforcements

1st Oct 1942 Advance Party

4th Oct 1942 Night Training

7th Oct 1942 Preparations

8th Oct 1942 Exercise

8th Oct 1942 On the Move

9th Oct 1942 On the Move

10th Oct 1942 Discussions

12th Oct 1942 Arrangements Made

14th Oct 1942 Relief of Detachments

14th Oct 1942 Inspection

15th Oct 1942 Deployments

16th Oct 1942 Preparations

18th Oct 1942 Exercise

19th Oct 1942 Detachment Ends

21st Oct 1942 Minefields

22nd Oct 1942 Minefields

23rd Oct 1942 Units Move Through

24th Oct 1942 Under Fire

25th Oct 1942 Minefields

26th Oct 1942 Move

27th Oct 1942 Preparations

28th Oct 1942 Maintenance

29th Oct 1942 Reinforcements

30th Oct 1942 Warning Orders

31st Oct 1942 Moves

2nd Nov 1942 Move

3rd Nov 1942 Equipment

4th Nov 1942 Advance

6th Nov 1942 Progress Difficult

7th Nov 1942 Wet Weather

8th Nov 1942 Minefields

9th Nov 1942 Air Attack

10th Nov 1942 Mines

11th Nov 1942 Advance

12th Nov 1942 Advance

13th Nov 1942 On the Move

14th Nov 1942 Mines Lifted

15th Nov 1942 Recce

16th Nov 1942 Patrol

17th Nov 1942 On the Move

18th Nov 1942 On the Move

19th Nov 1942 On the Move

20th Nov 1942 Mines

21st Nov 1942 Mines Lifted

22nd Nov 1942 Recce

23rd Nov 1942 On the Move

24th Nov 1942 Mines

25th Nov 1942 Moves

26th Nov 1942 Detachment

27th Nov 1942 Move

28th Nov 1942 Return

29th Nov 1942 Mines

30th Nov 1942 Water

1st Dec 1942 Tracks Marked

2nd Dec 1942 Tracks Marked

3rd Dec 1942 Vehicles

4th Dec 1942 Construction Work

5th Dec 1942 Construction Work

6th Dec 1942 Construction Work

7th Dec 1942 Water Supply

8th Dec 1942 Water Supply

9th Dec 1942 Mines

9th Dec 1942 Recce

10th Dec 1942 Inspection

10th Dec 1942 Recce

12th Dec 1942 Air Attack

12th Dec 1942 Water

13th Dec 1942 On the Move

13th Dec 1942 On the Move

14th Dec 1942 Orders

14th Dec 1942 Fence Cut

14th of December 1942 152 Brigade Operation Order No. 1. Appendix 24

15th Dec 1942 Mines

15th Dec 1942 Shelling

16th Dec 1942 Mines

16th Dec 1942 Move

17th Dec 1942 Mines Lifted

17th Dec 1942 Detachment Returns

18th Dec 1942 Mines

18th Dec 1942 On the Move

19th Dec 1942 Road Cleared

19th Dec 1942 On the Move

19th of December 1942 152 Brigade Operation Order No 2.

20th Dec 1942 Road Cleared

20th Dec 1942 Mines

21st Dec 1942 Orders

21st Dec 1942 Report

21st Dec 1942 Water

22nd Dec 1942 At Rest

23rd Dec 1942 Road Work

24th Dec 1942 Move

24th Dec 1942 Move

25th Dec 1942 Festivities

25th Dec 1942 Well

26th Dec 1942 Mines

26th Dec 1942 Road Cleared

27th Dec 1942 Roads Cleared

27th Dec 1942 Move

28th Dec 1942 Roads Cleared

28th Dec 1942 Move

29th Dec 1942 Road Work

29th Dec 1942 On the Move

30th Dec 1942 Slow Progress

30th Dec 1942 Water Supply

31st Dec 1942 Mines

31st Dec 1942 Minefield

14th Jan 1943 Move

16th Jan 1943 On the Move

17th Jan 1943 On the Move

19th Jan 1943 Mines

20th Jan 1943 Road Work

22nd Jan 1943 Damaged Roads

25th Jan 1943 Working Parties

31st Jan 1943 Working Parties

3rd Feb 1943 Preparations

4th Feb 1943 Visit

6th Feb 1943 Works Complete

9th Feb 1943 On the Move

10th Feb 1943 Road Work

11th Feb 1943 Road Work

12th Feb 1943 Reliefs

14th Feb 1943 On the Move

15th Feb 1943 On the Move

18th May 1943 Inspection

19th May 1943 Congestion

July 1943 Detachment

14th September 1943 In Action

16th September 1943 Patrols

18th of September 1943 Withdrawal

21st of September 1943 Conference

23rd of September 1943 Bold Plan

27th of September 1943 Orders

28th of September 1943 Town Captured

23rd Mar 1944 Award

13th Apr 1944 Preparations

May 1944 Preparations

6th Jun 1944 Landing

6th Jun 1944 On the Move

6th Jun 1944 On the Move

6th Jun 1944 On the Move

10th Jun 1944 Bocage

10th Jun 1944 Attack Made

10th Jun 1944 Counter Attack

11th Jun 1944 Shelling

11th Jun 1944 Orders Recieved

12th Jun 1944 Advance Guard

13th Jun 1944 In Action

13th Jun 1944 Shelling

14th Jun 1944 Attacks

19th Jun 1944 Conference

30th November 1944 Reorganisation

17th Jul 1944 Orders

18th Jul 1944 On the Move

19th Jul 1944 Counterattack

20th Jul 1944 In Action

24th Jul 1944 Orders

25th Jul 1944 Attack Made

26th Jul 1944 Digging in

29th Jul 1944 Orders

30th Jul 1944 Attack Made

31st Jul 1944 Slow Progress

4th Aug 1944 Orders

5th Aug 1944 Advance

5th Aug 1944 Enemy Withdraw

19th August 1944 Transport

28th Aug 1944 Conference

28th Aug 1944 In Action

31st Aug 1944 Orders

31st Aug 1944 Planning

5th Sep 1944 Under Fire

6th Sep 1944 Under Fire

15th Sep 1944 Reliefs

18th Sep 1944 Landings Delayed

22nd Sep 1944 Reliefs

25th Sep 1944 Patrols

25th Sep 1944 Attack Made

26th Sep 1944 In Action

27th Sept 1944 On the Move

29th Sep 1944 Bridge Blown

30th Sep 1944 Orders

1st October 1944 Moves

2nd October 1944 Poor Visibility

3rd October 1944 Targets Engaged

4th October 1944 Orders

5th October 1944 Targets Engaged

5th Oct 1944 Observation Post

6th October 1944 Orders

7th October 1944 Targets Engaged

8th October 1944 Artillery Support

9th October 1944 Orders

10th October 1944 Enemy Attacks

11th October 1944 Good Shooting

12th October 1944 Harrassing Fire

13th October 1944 Quieter

14th October 1944 Quiet

14th Oct 1944 Enemy Raid

15th October 1944 Targets Engaged

15th Oct 1944 Patrol

16th October 1944 Liasion

16th Oct 1944 Reliefs

17th October 1944 Artillery Active

20th Oct 1944 Orders

21st Oct 1944 TAC HQ on the Move

24th Oct 1944 New Position

25th Oct 1944 Advance

25th Oct 1944 Move

27th Oct 1944 Liaison

27th Oct 1944 In Action

28th Oct 1944 Positions

29th Oct 1944 On the Move

29th Oct 1944 In Action

30th Oct 1944 Recce

31st Oct 1944 Move

1st Nov 1944 Maintenance

2nd Nov 1944 Maintenance

3rd Nov 1944 Inspection

4th Nov 1944 Inspection

5th Nov 1944 Reliefs

6th Nov 1944 Training

6th Nov 1944 Defensive Positions

7th Nov 1944 Storm

7th Nov 1944 Defensive Positions

8th Nov 1944 Sport

8th Nov 1944 Defensive Positions

9th Nov 1944 On the Move

9th Nov 1944 Defensive Positions

10th Nov 1944 On the Move

10th Nov 1944 Reliefs

11th Nov 1944 Wireless Silence

11th Nov 1944 Reliefs

12th Nov 1944 Orders

13th Nov 1944 Orders

14th Nov 1944 In Action

7th Dec 1944 On the Move

20th Dec 1944 Reorganisation

21st Dec 1944 Quiet

22nd Dec 1944 Conference

23rd Dec 1944 Quiet

24th Dec 1944 Quiet

25th Dec 1944 Christmas Dinner

26th Dec 1944 Enemy Raid

27th Dec 1944 Freeze Precautions

28th Dec 1944 Quiet

29th Dec 1944 Quiet

30th Dec 1944 Quiet

31st Dec 1944 Quiet

13th Jan 1945 Orders

16th Jan 1945 Freezing Conditions

17th Jan 1945 Difficult Conditions

17th Jan 1945 Advance

18th Jan 1945 Advance

19th Jan 1945 Preparations

20th Jan 1945 Reliefs

21st January 1945  Snow

21st Jan 1945 Advance

22nd January 1945  On the Move

22nd Jan 1945 Stand Down

23rd January 1945  In Action

23rd January 1945  Pinned Down

24th January 1945  Advance

25th January 1945  Advance

26th January 1945  Patrols

27th January 1945  Patrols

28th January 1945  Patrol

29th January 1945  Shelling

30th January 1945  Patrol

31st January 1945  Patrol

21st February 1945 Preparations

23rd Mar 1945  Advance

23rd Mar 1945  Advance

29th Mar 1945 Recconaissance

1st Apr 1945 Quiet

3rd Apr 1945 In Action

3rd Apr 1945 Hard Fighting

4th Apr 1945 Patrols

5th Apr 1945 Stiff Opposition

6th Apr 1945 Air Attacks

7th of April 1945 Advance continued

19th Apr 1945 Ultimatum

8th May 1945 Crossing Points


If you can provide any additional information, especially on actions and locations at specific dates, please add it here.



Those known to have served with

7th Armoured Division (The Desert Rats)

during the Second World War 1939-1945.

  • Bardgett Frank. Cpl.
  • Bayley George Henry. Rflmn. (d.11th January 1942)
  • Clappison George Arthur.
  • Deacon Leslie William Richard. Mjr.
  • Durrans William Henry. Gnr.
  • Hodge Sidney Herman. L/Cpl
  • Howarth Donald. Sgt.
  • Mann Dennis Thomas William. Cpl.
  • McIntyre James Patrick.
  • McQuitty William Herbert. L/Cpl.
  • Owen Frederick.
  • Sayer Kenneth Harold. Cpl.
  • Stainthorpe William John. Bdr.
  • Street Eric Peter. Major.

The names on this list have been submitted by relatives, friends, neighbours and others who wish to remember them, if you have any names to add or any recollections or photos of those listed, please Add a Name to this List



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Want to know more about 7th Armoured Division (The Desert Rats)?


There are:413 items tagged 7th Armoured Division (The Desert Rats) available in our Library

  These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Second World War.